kids encyclopedia robot

Port Douglas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Port Douglas
Queensland
Port douglas qld australia.jpg
Four Mile Beach
Port Douglas is located in Queensland
Port Douglas
Port Douglas
Location in Queensland
Population 3,504 (2016 census)
 • Density 194.7/km2 (504/sq mi)
Postcode(s) 4877
Elevation 4 m (13 ft)
Area 18.0 km2 (6.9 sq mi)
Time zone AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Douglas
County Solander
State electorate(s) Cook
Federal Division(s) Leichhardt
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
27.9 °C
82 °F
20.6 °C
69 °F
2,032.4 mm
80 in
Localities around Port Douglas:
Killaloe Coral Sea Coral Sea
Killaloe Port Douglas Coral Sea
Craiglie Craiglie Craiglie

Port Douglas is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, approximately 60 km north of Cairns. In the 2016 census, Port Douglas had a population of 3,504 people. The town's population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season from May to September. The town is named in honour of a former Premier of Queensland, John Douglas. Port Douglas developed quickly based on the mining industry. Other parts of the area were established with timber cutting occurring in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting to occur on lots around the Mossman River by 1880.

Previous names for the town included Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. The town is situated adjacent to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

Port Douglas was No. 3 on Australian Traveller magazine's list of 100 Best Towns in Australia.

History

ANZAC Port-Douglas
Port Douglas War Memorial, 2006
Beach in Port Douglas 3
Beach in Port Douglas

The Port Douglas township was established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River by James Venture Mulligan. Port Douglas Post Office opened on 1 September 1877. It grew quickly, and at its peak Port Douglas had a population of 12,000 and 27 hotels. With the construction of the Mulligan Highway it serviced towns as far away as Herberton.

When the Kuranda Railway from Cairns to Kuranda was completed in 1891, the importance of Port Douglas dwindled along with its population. A cyclone in 1911 which demolished all but two buildings in the town also had a significant impact. At its nadir in 1960 the town, by then little more than a fishing village, had a population of 100.

The Port Douglas War Memorial was unveiled on 10 February 1923 by Mrs Tresize.

In the late-1980s, tourism boomed in the region after investor Christopher Skase financed the construction of the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort.

Heritage listings

Port Douglas has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Significant events, visitors and residents

On 5 July 1943, a RAAF Vultee Vengeance (Serial Number A27-217) crash landed on the beach near Port Douglas.

In November 1996 United States President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton chose the town as their only holiday stop on their historic visit to Australia. When dining at a local restaurant they witnessed a couple's wedding certificate. On a return visit on 11 September 2001, the then ex-President was again dining at the Salsa Bar and Grill, a local restaurant, when he was advised of the 11 September attacks. He returned to the United States the following day.

The town has enjoyed a steady influx of full-time residents since its 'rebirth', with most newcomers arriving from Australia's south, namely Victoria and Tasmania.

On 4 September 2006, entertainer a.k.a. "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, after a stingray barb went through his chest into his heart while Irwin and his crew were filming a documentary called The Ocean's Deadliest. Irwin was filmed snorkelling directly above the stingray when it lashed him with its tail, embedding its toxic barb. Irwin died almost immediately. This event was widely reported both in Australia and overseas.

Every year Port Douglas attracts tourist and locals alike to two significant festival periods.

The Port Douglas Carnivale is held during the end of May and runs for 10 days over two weekends beginning with the Macrossan Street Parade attracting over 10,000 people.

The second festival period is held through October and November with The Sunset in the Park Music Festival and Porttoberfest North Queensland's very own Beer Festival are held on the middle and last weekends of October.

The first weekend in November Port Douglas turns into an athletes' village to host the Canegrowers Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival. Steve Moneghetti is the event ambassador and competitors get the chance to race against the Marathon Olympian in the Steve Moneghetti Marathon.

In 2012, Port Douglas was the pole position for a Total Solar Eclipse. This phenomenon took place at 6:38 am on 14 November 2012. The total eclipse was visible from approximately Innisfail in the south to Cedar Bay National Park in the North. Port Douglas was right in its path. Thousands travelled to Port Douglas to see the event.

The Music Video for Kylie Minogue's 1988 single "it's no secret" was filmed on location in Port Douglas.

St Mary's by the sea Chapel
St Mary's by the Sea (former Catholic church, 1914-1988)

Climate

Port Douglas has a tropical monsoon climate according to Köppen climate classification (Am), with hot summers and warm winters, with heavy rainfall primarily occurring from January–March, the wettest month of the year typically being February.

Climate data for Port Douglas, Queensland
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.3
(86.5)
30.1
(86.2)
29.5
(85.1)
28.3
(82.9)
26.7
(80.1)
25.1
(77.2)
24.6
(76.3)
25.3
(77.5)
26.7
(80.1)
28.3
(82.9)
29.5
(85.1)
30.3
(86.5)
27.9
(82.2)
Average low °C (°F) 23.7
(74.7)
23.5
(74.3)
22.8
(73.0)
21.5
(70.7)
19.5
(67.1)
17.7
(63.9)
16.8
(62.2)
17.1
(62.8)
18.6
(65.5)
20.8
(69.4)
22.3
(72.1)
23.3
(73.9)
20.6
(69.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 401.6
(15.81)
429.7
(16.92)
425.6
(16.76)
204.8
(8.06)
70.8
(2.79)
47.3
(1.86)
25.6
(1.01)
24.1
(0.95)
32.0
(1.26)
52.0
(2.05)
107.9
(4.25)
213.2
(8.39)
2,032.4
(80.02)
Average precipitation days 15.5 15.9 16.1 13.3 9.8 7.0 5.5 5.2 5.4 6.4 9.0 11.7 120.8
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Recreation

Kitesurfing Port Douglas
Kitesurfing at Port Douglas, Australia

Kitesurfing is popular at the southern end of Four Mile Beach, particularly during the winter months when trade winds blow from the South.

Port Douglas is near the Great Barrier Reef. Numerous companies run daily trips from the marina to the outer reef and the Low Isles for scuba diving and snorkelling. Port Douglas is also well known for its many restaurants, walks, golf courses, and five star resorts.

Education

Port Douglas State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Endeavour Street (16°31′27″S 145°27′40″E / 16.5242°S 145.4612°E / -16.5242; 145.4612 (Port Douglas State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 281 students with 20 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).

For secondary school, Port Douglas is within the catchment of Mossman State High School.

Images for kids

kids search engine
Port Douglas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.